Rabbit communication

Bossroo

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We have several bushes in our yard and as I walked by, I flushed two very young Cottontail baby rabbits that still didn't have full ontrol of their legs yet. They ran in opposite directions as fast as their legs could carry them. One ended up in our garage ( I couln't find it, so I left the garage open all night ). The other one ran accross the street , then I lost sight of it. I haven't heard of any rabbits communicate with their voice or any other way other than when the very young are in the nest and their mother jumps in to nurse them ? In this case such as this, do young baby rabbits and / or the mother rabbit communicate with each other so that they can be reunited and have a good meal or does the baby rabbit rely on their instinct to find their way to their nest ?
 

Bossroo

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I once again walked past the same bush this morning and once again the baby Cottontails scooted out in oposite directions. But this time they only ran for about 20 feet and then froze where they were. I backed out . So whatever the communication or instint is, they returned to their nest for R &R and dinner.
 

Mini Horses

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I know rabbits rarely venture far from "their" area. Not sure about how they return -- scent, etc, for their steering system. I suspect scent/hearing. While rabbits are generally quiet, they can yell. Once I saw a young one behind a log I had sat on. I reached down and grabbed it, it squealed. I looked at it and let it go in same spot.

Perhaps some of the rabbit breeders on here have more info to share for these cuties. All animals have their own "habits" & communication -- deer & fawns, etc. It's an interesting subject as knowing the particular habits helps us to provide for their needs, train them, etc.

Anyone have more info?
 

promiseacres

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I would suspect the same, scent mainly. While most my does are adequate and I consider them good mothers. They aren't super attentive especially past nest box stage of about 14 days. They don't appear distressed if one were to be missing or ill.
 

Pastor Dave

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My guess is scent mostly. What little sounds they do make are probably muted by us walking through leaves or grass as we approach them. They probably cease their communication when they hear us as well, which is far sooner than we could see or hear them. Their vision too, is set up for distance and allows them to see predators flying above them, i.e. hawks, eagles, or something further off at a distance. But, yah. Most communication is by scent and instinct.
 
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